The wittmann-price theory of emancipated decision-making in women’s health care: an analysis based on McEwen

The use of theories in nursing reflects the discipline’s progression toward autonomy and delineates its scope, directly guiding practice, research, education, and administration. This paper analyzes and evaluates the theoretical model for nursing care of women involved in health care decisions—The Wittmann-Price Theory of Emancipated Decision-Making in Women’s Health Care—based on McEwen’s systematic theory 3-phase evaluation method. Developed through a rigorous process, this theory centers on the concept of emancipation and its associated subconcepts crucial to decision-making in women’s health. This included crafting explanatory propositions and incorporating them into a structured theoretical framework. Having been applied and refined in various clinical settings, the theory has improved in applicability and proven effective for guiding nursing care across diverse environments. Furthermore, fostering a flexible environment that enhances personal knowledge significantly contributes to emancipated decision-making, which is closely linked to decision satisfaction.